Quotation על שמואל א 1:1

And there was a certain man from Ramathaim-Zophim, the hills of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eliyhu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuf, a distinguished man. And he had two wives; one named Hannah and the other, Peninah. And Peninah had children but Hannah had no children. And this man went up from his city, from year to year, to prostrate himself and offer sacrifices to the Adonoy of Hosts, in Shiloh. And there, the two sons of Eli, Chophni and Pinchas, were priests to Adonoy. And on the day when Elkanah offered sacrifices, he gave portions to Peninah, his wife and to all her sons and daughters. And to Hannah, he gave a double portion because he loved Hannah, though Adonoy had closed up her womb. And her rival taunted her bitterly to provoke her, because Adonoy had closed up her womb. And as he did so from year to year; whenever she came up to the House of Adonoy she provoked Hannah who wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her: “Why do you weep? And why won’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” And Hannah arose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, and Eli, the Priest, sat on the chair near the door-post of the Temple of Adonoy. And she was bitterly grieved and prayed to Adonoy and wept. And she vowed a vow and said: “Adonoy of Hosts if You will see the anguish of Your handmaid and remember me and will not forget Your handmaid and will give Your handmaid a son—then I will give him to Adonoy all the days of his life and no razor shall touch his head.” And she prayed so long before Adonoy, that Eli observed her mouth. But Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. And Eli thought her to be a drunkard. And Eli said to her: “How long will you remain drunk? Free yourself from your need of wine!” And Hannah answered and said: “No, my master, I am a woman of grieved spirit; I have not drunk any wine or other intoxicating drinks. But I have poured out my soul in the presence of God. Do not take your handmaid for a wicked woman; it is only because of my sorrow and grief that I have spoken until now.”And Eli answered and said: “Go in peace! And may the God of Yisrael grant you that which you asked of Him.” And she said: “May your servant find grace in your eyes.” And the woman went on her way and she ate and she was no longer grieved. And they arose early in the morning and prostrated themselves before Adonoy and returned to their home in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and Adonoy remembered. And in the course of days, Hannah conceived and bore a son and she called him Shmuel, because from Adonoy I asked for him. And the man Elkanah and his entire household went up to offer the yearly sacrifice and to fulfill his vows to Adonoy. But Hannah did not go up, for she told her husband: “When the boy is weaned, I will bring him to appear before Adonoy and he will remain there forever.” And Elkanah, her husband, said to her: “Do what is best in your eyes; stay here until you wean him and may Adonoy fulfill the word that was said of him.” And the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And she took him up with her, after she weaned him, along with three bullocks and an ephah of flour and a bottle of wine. And she brought him to the House of Adonoy at Shiloh, when he was still a young boy. And they slaughtered the bullock and brought the child to Eli. And she said: “Please, my master. I am the woman who stood here with you to pray to Adonoy. I prayed for this boy and Adonoy gave me what I asked of Him. And I have therefore loaned him to Adonoy; for as long as he lives, he is loaned to Adonoy.” And he prostrated himself there to Adonoy. And Hannah prayed and said: My heart exults in God; my horn is raised through Adonoy. My mouth is opened wide against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your deliverance. There is none as holy as Adonoy, for nothing else exists besides You; nor is there any rock like our God. Do not talk so much, so haughtily; nor let arrogance come out of your mouths; For Adonoy is a God of knowledge, and He weighs all of man’s actions. The bows of the powerful are broken, while the feeble are girded with strength. Those that were sated must hire themselves out to labor for bread, while those who were hungry no longer toil. While the barren woman has born seven children, she with many children languishes. Adonoy causes death and gives life; He brings down to the grave but also brings up therefrom. Adonoy impoverishes and makes rich; He lowers and He raises up. He raises up the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the dunghill, to seat them with nobles, and they inherit the throne of honour; for the foundations of the earth are Adonoy’s and He has set the world of man upon them. He will guard the footsteps of His pious ones, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness; for not by might shall man prevail. Those that strive against Adonoy shall be broken to pieces; Adonoy will thunder against them in the heavens. He will judge the ends of the earth and give strength to His king and raise up the horn of His anointed.